7-day tour "Hiking the Swiss Alps"

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Do it yourself 7-day tour "Hiking the Swiss Alps"

This tour suggestion includes hiking in two very different regions: the Bernese Oberland and the Upper Engadine. A ride with the famous Glacier Express takes you from one place to the other.

The itinerary of this tour can be booked as displayed here (see the shopping list), or you can extend it by booking extra nights in Zurich, Wengen or St. Moritz.

Whether hiking is possible, always depends on the weather. Generally, the suggested tour is possible from mid June to mid October.

Shopping list for this tour

Please note that this is a sample itinerary. You can make any changes you like, to adapt the tour to your preferences and available time. The list below is what you would need to book if you choose to make the tour as described.

8-day Swiss Travel Pass. This includes all train transfers. It provides discounts on some of the mountain transport like cableways and cogwheel trains;

Day 1: Zurich to Wengen

You will take the train from Zurich to Wengen (about 3 hours). If you plan an early arrival you could visit the village of Mürren and the Schilthorn first, and then continue to Wengen to check into your hotel.

The next days you will explore the Jungfrau region on foot. Hiking options are weather dependent, so it's good to have some alternatives in case of rain:

Day 2: Hiking to Kleine Scheidegg

Most tourists will reach Kleine Scheidegg by cogwheel train, on their way to the Jungfraujoch. But it can be done on foot as well. Take the cableway from Wengen to Männlichen. Then take the panoramic hiking trail to Kleine Scheidegg.

After enjoying the view of the Jungfrau from Kleine Scheidegg, you can take the train back to Wengen. Alternatively you can walk to Wengen on a mostly easy wide trail.

Day 3: Hiking near Grindelwald

Today you'll travel to Grindelwald by train, and take the gondola up First from there. From First, there are many hiking options. Our suggestions are:

Day 4: Wengen to St. Moritz by Glacier Express

This is a long day of traveling, but with great views. You will first travel to Brig. There you will switch to the Glacier Express which arrives in St. Moritz around dinner time. The whole journey takes about 9 hours. You can also travel via Zurich, which is the regular, less scenic route. This is one to two hours quicker.

The next days you will explore the Upper Engadine on foot. Here are some alternative activities in case bad weather prevents you from hiking:

Day 5: Panorama trail Muottas Muragl to Alp Languard

A funicular takes you up to Muottas Muragl, from where you can walk to Alp Languard. There are great views on St. Moritz, the lakes of the Upper Engadine, and Piz Bernina, the highest mountain in this region. From Alp Languard, a chair lift takes you down to Pontresina, from where you can quickly travel back to St. Moritz.

Day 6: Hiking from Piz Nair to Bever

The final hike of this tour is a long and strenuous one, but it's not particularly difficult. From St. Moritz you'll take the funicular and cable car up to Piz Nair. From there you gradually descend back into the valley until you reach the village of Bever. Then take a train back to St. Moritz. Details can be found here.

Day 7: St. Moritz to Zurich

Today's transfer will take about 3h30, so if your schedule allows you to arrive late in Zurich, you can still enjoy part of the day shopping in St. Moritz, doing a short hike, or visiting a local mountain top such as Piz Nair (if you did not get the chance on day 6) or the Corvatsch.

Another option for today is to travel to Zurich via Davos. This prevents you from seeing part of the Glacier Express route a second time, and allows you to see new alpine scenery instead. You'd travel into the Lower Engadine region, and switch trains in Sagliains. Then you continue via Davos and Landquart to Zurich. This route takes about the same time as the regular route via Chur, but you can break your trip in another famous mountain resort: Davos.

We recommend the SBB ticketshop

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Hotels for train travelers

Make your trip even more convenient by choosing hotels at walking distance of the rail station